Thoughts on my new Eastman Rough Wear B3 jacket

Lebowski said:

Try to apply Pecard covering it several times during the week and leave it with Pecard covered for about two weeks after last treatment. It should help to soften the leather and will protect it from any next possible cracking and from soaking under the snow etc. I wouldn't wear this exact one before properly done Pecard treatment.
P.S. Nobody knows how it was storaged by its previous owner/eBay seller. Direct sunlight/UV or extremely dry weather might cause its current overdried condition. If the jacket fits well I'd keep it. Pecard should help. Eastman do nice WWII jackets, B3 incl.

Click to expand...

Dav said:

I'd say it looks fairly normal for ELCs broken grain, a coat of picards will help soften a bit and may protect the finish, what you see cracking is the applied top coat no the actual leather itself.
The fleece coming off would concern me though, I've not noticed that with any of my ELC sheepskins.
Here's my redskin that's a few years old now, which has had one very light coat of Picards on it earlier in the year. View attachment 267368
I have to agree with you on the zip front, it hasn't caused any problems yet but I don't have much faith in it lasting.
Edit
This isn't the "time worn", I don't think they do that on the Redskin.

Click to expand...

Monitor said:

@warthog

Judging by the photos, what you're seeing on your jacket seems perfectly normal to me.

From what I understand, the wartime finish emulates the look of old B3 jackets that have shrunk with time, leaving the finish no longer... Well, fitting the surface of the leather (don't know how to explain). It'll thus begin to wrinkle (and crack), achieving this look.

The shiny finish you're concerned about isn't leather but a lacquer of a sort and yeah, being mostly a relatively thick layer of inorganic mix of stuff, that's how it feels. Some companies even call this "leatherized" sheepskin.
Anyway, the finish may seem dry and brittle as it basically is just a painted coat of lacquer but that stuff is actually (usually) very durable and weather (and fire!) resistant.

So exactly what @Dav mentioned, it is for that very same reason that leather conditioners (should) have ZERO effect on these jackets, since you can't actually apply it to the leather but only to the finish that covers it, which will have no benefit from it.
The jacket might absorb some of the conditioner if the protective coating is porous where it has began cracking and flaking but how effective will that be in the long run, if at all... Dunno.

Without the finish, sheepskin feel like suede, which is exactly what it is as the inside of the leather is facing outwards, of course, with the fur part keeping you warm.

In short, if it feels like you can peel off the crackly finish easily... Then that's something to be worried about but if it's firmly set and holding on the hide, even though it may appear brittle, you're good.

What @Dav says, though, I'd be more worried about the shedding fur. That shouldn't be happening.

Click to expand...

warthog said:

...the color inconsistency of the jacket. There are several spots that look darker than other areas.

Click to expand...

warthog said:

Thank you guys for your reply.

I will try to use some Pecard later this winter to try to soft it. Hope it will be more supple after that.

The fur is not coming off anymore after my second wearing, so I think it's not a huge problem now. Your jacket is really gorgeous by the way.

Another reason I hope to try Pecard is the color inconsistency of the jacket. There are several spots that look darker than other areas. So I may want to use some conditioner to buffer the color.

Click to expand...

Lebowski said:

It's one of the most interesting features in good WWII period repro's, it names "hand painted" and that's the highly thought after feature actually. Any attempt to "fix" it making the color to be more plain and evenly consistent would decrease the value of the jacket significantly. There's little or no interest to "plain jane" jackets made of evenly colored smooth leather without any hint to grain. Seems you haven't understood yet what a beaut you've purchased. It's nice repro, use some Pecard to soften the leather and just wear it. It deserves some love!
P.S. What size is that? I'm thinking of to make you an offer)

Click to expand...

Monitor said:

But that's what I'm saying - Pecard won't (or at least shouldn't) make a difference as you won't be applying it to the leather but rather to a layer of acrylic finish. The finish should be waterproof, that's the whole purpose of it so basically, the equivalent would be, I dunno, applying a leather conditioner to a painted wooden fence.

You'd be better off buying a darker paint and repainting the jacket.

Click to expand...

Lebowski said:

It's one of the most interesting features in good WWII period repro's, it names "hand painted" and that's the highly thought after feature actually. Any attempt to "fix" it making the color to be more plain and evenly consistent would decrease the value of the jacket significantly. There's little or no interest to "plain jane" jackets made of evenly colored smooth leather without any hint to grain. Seems you haven't understood yet what a beaut you've purchased. It's nice repro, use some Pecard to soften the leather and just wear it. It deserves some love!
P.S. What size is that? I'm thinking of to make you an offer)

Click to expand...

Mulceber said:

Very much late to the party, but I'll throw in my opinions anyway. I've got exactly the same model jacket from Eastman, and on opening the box it looked exactly like yours. I wore it several days a week from the day I got it last January through the end of winter and into spring without ever treating it. Never had a problem. I wouldn't do a thing. Just wear it, and enjoy it. The broken grain look of Eastman's shearling is certainly an acquired taste, but don't fret about it and just try to enjoy the jacket on its own terms. It's a beauty.

Click to expand...

jpk_NJ said:

I had the same initial response feeling when I received my Eastman B6. It's their normal topcoat finish / nothing wrong with it. They just use a really heavy finish to protect the sheepskin. Im not sure how much leather conditioner would actually soak through at this point. Just wear it / break it in and it will get a bit softer. But it will never be completely soft flexible like goat hide or an untreated sheepskin. I sold my Eastman after a year. Just wasn't for me so I don't blame you for not enjoying the finish. And yeah, that repro crown zipper is pretty delicate /wonky.

Click to expand...

Dav said:

Welcome to the lounge B-man.

Click to expand...